Eagles star excited by prospect of Arsenal trip

YANNICK Bolasie can’t wait to make his first ever appearance at the Emirates this weekend when Crystal Palace take on title challengers Arsenal.

The Eagles head north of the river on the back of a vital midweek 1-0 success against Hull but know they face one of their biggest tests of the season so far against a Gunners side which sits just a point off leaders Manchester City.

And Bolasie reckons Palace’s transformation under new boss Tony Pulis means they are in with a genuine chance of collecting points on Sunday.

He said: “Everyone knows it is going to be a tough game but we are all looking forward to it.

“You don’t get the chance to play at the Emirates every day so we will make the most of it.

“We were conceding a lot of goals earlier in the season but we have shortened that now and are starting to score more up the other end.”

Meanwhile, Bolasie says he is thrilled to have Italian clubs among those showing an interest in him but insists he wants to remain at Selhurst.

“I am flattered by interest from Italy but I am a Palace player and I am happy here and help us stay in the Premier League,” he said.

“I don’t look into that stuff much.

“My agent has been dealing with it so we will just have to wait and see.

“I don’t like thinking about the contract situation, I would rather just go out there and play my game.”

Crystal Palace have opened up a four-point gap from the drop zone as their miraculous recovery under Pulis continues.

But Bolasie is adamant the team won’t rest on their laurels in a season where there seems there is no such thing as the safety of mid-table.

Only six points separate 11th-placed Swansea from bottom club Cardiff so Boalsie knows Palace must continue the hard work they have been putting in.

He said: “The league is really tight at the bottom and we know that.

“The team has got a lot of confidence from the last couple of games we have played and hopefully we can carry on nicking points.

“It is important we don’t take our foot off the gas and the manager won’t let us do that.”

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